Glossary of baseball (L) facts for kids

A baseball glossary helps you understand the special words and phrases used in the game. It's like a dictionary just for baseball! This guide will explain some common terms starting with the letter 'L'.

Baseball Terms: L

Lace

When a batter "laces" the ball, it means they hit it hard and accurately. The ball goes right between the infield players, making it tough for them to catch. This usually helps the batter get on base.

LAIM

LAIM stands for League Average Inning Muncher. This is a term for a starting pitcher who can throw a lot of innings in a season, usually around 200. They might not be the best pitcher, but they are reliable. They help their team by staying in the game and saving the bullpen (other pitchers) from having to pitch too much.

Large Sausage

This is a fun, slang term for a grand slam home run. A grand slam happens when a batter hits a home run with all three bases loaded, scoring four runs at once! It's a big play, so it gets a big nickname.

Laser Show

A "laser show" describes a great hitting performance. It means a batter or a team is hitting many hard, straight line drives. It's exciting to watch, like a show! This term is also the nickname for former Boston Red Sox player Dustin Pedroia, who was known for his sharp hitting.

Late Innings

In a standard nine-inning baseball game, the "late innings" are the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. These are often the most exciting parts of the game, as teams try to score or hold onto a lead before the game ends.

Laugher

A "laugher" is a game where one team gets a huge lead, often early on. The game becomes so one-sided that it seems impossible for the other team to catch up. It's an easy win, also called a "romp" or a "blowout," because the winning team can relax and "laugh" their way to victory.

Launch

• When a batter "launches" a ball, they hit a very long fly ball, often a home run. It's like launching a rocket!
• A pitcher might "launch" a wild pitch if it goes far away from the catcher.
• A fielder can also "launch" a ball if they throw it wildly, out of reach of their teammate.

Launch Angle

"Launch angle" is a measurement that shows how high a batted ball goes into the air right after it leaves the bat. It's the angle between the ground and the ball's path. A good launch angle can help a ball travel farther.

Launch Pad

A "launch pad" is a nickname for a baseball park where many home runs are hit. Some ballparks are designed in a way, or have certain weather conditions, that make it easier for batters to hit the ball out of the park.

Lay Down

When a player "lays down" a bunt, it means they softly hit the ball a short distance, usually to advance a runner or get on base themselves. It's a strategic play that requires skill to place the ball just right.

Lay Off

If a batter "lays off" a pitch, it means they decide not to swing at it. This is often done when the pitch is outside the strike zone or is a type of pitch the batter knows they can't hit well. Batters try to be patient and only swing at pitches they can hit hard.

Lead

• A baserunner "takes a lead" when they step off a base before the pitcher throws the ball. This shortens the distance they need to run to the next base, making it easier to steal or advance.
• The first batter for a team in an inning is said to "lead off" the inning.

Leadoff Hitter

• The "leadoff hitter" is the first batter in a team's lineup. This player is usually fast and good at getting on base, setting things up for the powerful hitters who come after them.
• Any batter who is the first to bat in a specific inning is also called the "leadoff" batter for that inning. If they get a hit or a walk, it's called a "leadoff single" or a "leadoff walk."

Leaning

A baserunner is "caught leaning" when they are trying to get a big lead off a base but shift their weight too much towards the next base. If the pitcher throws to their current base, they might be caught off balance and tagged out.

Leather

• "Leather" refers to a baseball glove. A player with "good leather" is an excellent defensive player, especially in the infield, meaning they are skilled at catching and fielding balls.
• "Flashing the leather" means making an amazing defensive play, like a diving catch or a quick, difficult throw.
• A "leather player" is someone who is great at defense but might not be as strong at hitting.

Left-Handed Bat

Even though all baseball bats are the same shape, a "left-handed bat" is a common way to refer to a hitter who bats left-handed. You might hear a team say they are looking to "acquire a left-handed bat" if they need more left-handed hitters.

Left-Handed Hitter

A "left-handed hitter" is a batter who stands on the right side of home plate (closest to first base) and swings with their left hand. Most people who are left-handed in everyday life, like throwing a ball, will bat left-handed.

Left-Handed Specialist

This is a left-handed relief pitcher who is very good at getting left-handed batters out. They are often brought into the game just to face one or two tough left-handed hitters in important situations.

Left on Base (LOB)

"Left on base," or LOB, means a baserunner was on base when the inning ended, and they didn't score a run or get out.

• Team LOB is a statistic that counts how many runners a team left on base when the third out of each inning happened. It shows how many scoring chances a team had but didn't turn into runs.
• Sometimes, "left on base in scoring position" is mentioned, which means runners were on second or third base when the inning ended, showing a missed opportunity to score.

Leg Out

To "leg out" a hit or an advance means to run very hard and fast to safely reach a base or move to the next one. For example, a player might "leg out an infield hit" by running quickly to first base before the fielder can throw them out.

Letter High

A "letter-high" pitch is one that crosses home plate at the height of the letters on a batter's chest. This is usually a good pitch to hit, but a fast one can be tough to catch up to. It's also called "chest high."

Lift

To "lift" a player means to remove them from the game. A manager might lift a player if they are not playing well, if they need a substitute for a specific situation (like a pinch runner), or if they are injured.

Lights-Out

A "lights-out" pitcher is someone who is so dominant that once they start pitching, the game feels like it's over. They don't allow any runs and get batters out easily, making it seem like you could "turn out the lights and go home."

Line Drive

A "line drive," or "liner," is a batted ball that is hit hard and travels in a low, straight path through the air. It doesn't go very high, making it a fast and dangerous hit. If a fielder catches a line drive, the batter is said to have "lined out."

Lineup

The "lineup" is the official list of players who will start the game for a team, showing their batting order and their defensive positions. Announcers often read the lineup before a game, saying things like, "Batting first, playing second base..."

Lineup Card

The "lineup card" is a form that each team's manager keeps. It lists all the starting players and substitutes available for the game. The manager gives a copy to the home plate umpire before the game begins. It helps managers keep track of who is playing and who can be used as a substitute.

Live Arm

A pitcher with a "live arm" has a very strong arm and can throw pitches with a lot of speed, or "velocity." It means their pitches are powerful and hard to hit.

Live Ball Era

The "Live Ball Era" in baseball began around 1919 or 1920. Before this time, the game was more about strategy and small hits (the "Dead Ball Era"). In the Live Ball Era, rule changes and new strategies led to more home runs and powerful hitting, making the game more exciting and offense-focused.

Live on the Corners

A pitcher who "lives on the corners" throws most of their pitches to the very edges of home plate, either inside or outside. They try to be very precise with their pitches, making it hard for batters to hit them squarely, rather than just throwing hard down the middle.

Lively Fastball / Life on the Ball

A "lively fastball" or a pitch with "life on the ball" is not just fast, but also seems to move or speed up as it gets closer to the plate. This makes it very difficult for batters to hit, as it can fool their timing.

Load the Bases

To "load the bases" means to get a runner on first, second, and third base. This creates a big scoring opportunity, as the next batter could hit a single to score a run, or a grand slam to score four!

Locate

A pitcher's ability to "locate" the ball means they can throw it exactly where they want it to go, whether it's the inside corner, outside corner, or high or low in the strike zone. A pitcher with "good location" is very precise and makes smart choices about where to throw the ball against different batters.

Lock Him Up

• To "lock up" a player means to sign them to a long-term contract. This keeps them with their team for many years and prevents them from becoming a "free agent" (a player who can sign with any team).
• A pitcher can "lock up" a hitter by throwing a pitch that makes it impossible for the hitter to swing effectively, often making them freeze in place.

Lollipop

A "lollipop" is a slang term for a soft, slow, and straight pitch that has a high arc. It's usually easy for a batter to hit because it doesn't have much speed or movement.

Long Ball

The "long ball" is another term for a home run. If a team "wins by the long ball," it means they hit one or more home runs that helped them win the game, especially if it was a close game or a walk-off home run.

Long Ones

"Long ones" is a casual way to refer to home runs. When a batter hits "several long ones," it means they hit multiple home runs in a game or over a period of time.

Long Out

A "long out" is when a batter hits a ball very deep into the outfield, but it's caught by a fielder. Even though it was hit hard and far, it still results in an out.

Long Reliever

A "long reliever" is a type of relief pitcher who comes into the game early, usually before the 5th inning. They pitch many innings when the starting pitcher can't continue, perhaps because they are not pitching well, got injured, or there was a long rain delay.

Long Strike

A "long strike" is a foul ball that is hit very far and comes close to being a fair ball, or even a home run. Even though it was a powerful hit, it's still just a strike against the batter if they have less than two strikes.

Look the Runner Back

• When a pitcher "looks the runner back" to first base, they might step off the pitching rubber and stare at the runner, or pretend to throw to first. This is done to make the runner go back closer to the base, preventing them from taking too big a lead.
• An infielder might also "look the runner back" on second or third base after fielding a ground ball. They briefly stare at the runner to stop them from advancing before throwing to first base for an out.

Looper

A "looper" is a softly hit ball that goes high enough to get over the infielders but drops down before the outfielders can catch it. It's a lucky hit that often falls for a single. It's also called a "blooper" or "Texas Leaguer."

Lose a Hitter

When a pitcher "loses a hitter," it means they give up a walk, especially after being ahead in the count (having more strikes than balls) or having a full count (3 balls, 2 strikes). It means they couldn't get the final strike to get the batter out.

Losing Record

A team has a "losing record" during the regular season if they have lost more games than they have won. For example, in a 162-game season, a team with a losing record would have lost at least 82 games. This is also called a "losing season."

Losing Streak

A "losing streak" is when a team loses several games in a row. It's the opposite of a winning streak.

Lost the Ball in the Sun

When a player tries to catch a fly ball but is temporarily blinded by the sun's glare, they might "lose the ball in the sun." This can cause them to miss the catch, leading to a hit or an error.

Loud Out

A "loud out" happens when a batter hits a long fly ball that sounds like it might be a home run, and the crowd reacts loudly. However, the ball is caught in the outfield, resulting in an out. It's a powerful hit that just didn't quite make it.

Lumber

"Lumber" is a slang term for a baseball bat. When a team "busts out the lumber," it means they are hitting the ball very well and scoring many runs, showing off their powerful bats.

Images for kids

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  A lineup card from a 2001 spring training game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves